Riverside Art Museum

Last Saturday, RAM christened its new exhibitions with a celebratory reception. Jeff Soto: Turning in Circles, Painting in Southern California: The 1980s, Driven to Abstraction and Neo-Expressionism. If you missed it, you have until February 21, 2009 to check them out. The night was particularly special in that it was also Riverside Art Museum’s goodbye to Director Daniel Foster. At the beginning of the reception, Daniel Foster spoke to the overflow crowd about the exhibitions, and thanked the Board and Museum Staff for their efforts during his tenure. Senior Curator Peter Frank spoke about the exhibitions and thanked Daniel for his work at RAM and offered good wishes he begins work as the new CEO/Director of the Community Foundation. Jeff Soto talked about the Riverside connection of his artwork and thanked his family and friends. With a huge turnout, tasty snacks provided by Saffron’s, great art and a keg that tapped out before 8pm, it was certainly a successful and fun night to remember. Below are some photos of Saturday’s reception taken by RAM intern Amanda Holguin.

The Carlson brothers adjust a Jeff Soto piece temporarily on display on the RAM lawn exculsively for the night of the reception.

Jeff Soto: Turning in Circles, located downstairs in the Art Allience Gallery.

 Goodbyes and warm wishes go to Daniel Foster.

Senior Curator Peter Frank shakes hands with Daniel Foster. 

 Micah Carlson, Daniel Foster and Lee Tusman.

 Daniel Foster and artist Jeff Soto.

Jeff Soto’s book Storm Clouds is available in the RAM gift shop.

The lobby floods with excited art patrons.

Driven to Abstraction II.

Monothon 14 has been a great success so far. Friday night was the Auction and Reception. The Members Gallery was full of people. Daniel Foster, Chick Curtis, Lee Tusman and Michael Bernbaum all spoke. About half of the prints were sold, and the remaining prints are all available for purchase during the run of the exhibit. If you haven’t seen the show yet, make sure you come on down before it closes on August 16th. Thank you to all of the artists, printers, volunteers, and to our Coordinator Chick Curtis and Volunteer Coordinator Jorge Fernandez.

Below, check out a video of Monothon 14, filmed by intern Brianna Bakke.

Monothon 14 at Riverside Art Museum from Riverside Art Museum on Vimeo.

Last Saturday, we had three new exhibitions open here at RAM. Downstairs, in the Art Alliance Gallery, “Painting’s Edge 2008″ opened and a great number of contributing artists were in attendance. “Painting’s Edge 2008″ is a group exhibition featuring artists from Idyllwild Summer Arts Institute. Painting’s Edge carries a number of works that seek to push the medium beyond canvas. This exhibit includes works from artists Ben Weiner, Barbara Moody, Wendell Gladstone, Roland Reiss and more.

Upstairs, in the Bobbie Powell Gallery, LA artist Kristi Lippire’s ”For The Birds” solo exhibition took flight. Many visitors were taken with Lippire’s “Twittering Machine”. “The Twittering Machine”  is an interactive installation of a sparkling flock of geese assembled from colanders. The geese are attached to a wheel which allows the visitor to bring the flock to life.

Katrin Wiese’s show “Eine Klein Psychodrama” opened in the De Vean Gallery. Wiese’s surreal paintings are filled with crowds of stylized outlandish characters abiding in mystical landscapes. Wiese’s paintings are also for sale, a price list is available in the De Vean Gallery.

This Thursday is Arts Walk from 6 - 9PM. Each month at RAM we have a hands-on art project. This month we’re building buildings! In conjunction with American Institute of Architects/U.S. Green Building Council 2008 Regional Architectural Design Awards Exhibition. Inspired by Ray and Charles Eames, we’ll re-use exhibition cards to create maquettes within the exhibition.

And the same night, check this out at Division 9 North, brought to you by the Sweeney Art Gallery.

More info including the schedule after the jump.

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HUGE SUCCESS! Thank you to everyone who came to the opening. About 500 people came in the 3 hours we were open. In front of the museum, students from Norte Vista High School exhibited and sold their artwork. Artists Jon Roach and Dan Nguyen were on hand to show off their installations in the museum’s display cases. Raymond Pettibon’s work hung brightly in the Alcoves. And Clare Rojas and Barry McGee created a beautiful installation of surf boards, banjos, paintings, tags, video art, giant canvases and some amplitude. To cap it off, Peggy Honeywell performed a tight set of folk music, and the audience enjoyed fruit, and a keg of microbrewed root beer. If you were there, you may have seen Jeff Soto, Ed Templeton, Juxtapoz, Current TV and others in attendance. Root beer floats for all!

We just want to take a moment here and thank everyone who participated and showed up for the opening reception.

All photos by William Nicoletti

More Photos after the jump

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The reception for Milford Zornes was a great success. Art-lovers from around Southern California (and a few far flung locations) came to see the exhibit and honor Zornes and his 100th birthday. PBS was there to capture the scene for a future documentary. Curator Gordon McClellan gave an in depth talk about Zorne’s history, the changes in his art throughout his career, and insight into specific transitional pieces in Zornes’ career.

Director Daniel Foster, Milford Zornes, Curator Gordon McClelland

Zornes signing his book

Zornes greeting guests

Curator Peter Frank led a talk about Plein Air Abstraction, followed by a Q and A with the artists. Some of the artists literally paint outside, while the majority kept images of the land in their mind while working on their paintings. Throughout the discussion, it was clear that the artists feel a connection to abstract expressionist influence while grounding their process in a reference to the outdoor environment.

Artist photos after the jump… (more…)

The museum hosted a tribute to artist Don O’Neill on December 13. Over 75 people including artists, family, and community members came to honor Don and to talk about his influence in their lives.